Lacrosse Suspect's Lawyer Calls Death "An Accident"

George Huguely's family attended his first hearing in the death of Yeardley Love, which Huguely watched via closed-circuit TV. (Published Wednesday, May 12, 2010)

Love was found dead in an off-campus apartment May 3. Huguely was subsequently charged with first-degree murder. In the days after his arrest, disturbing allegations that he'd abused Love in the past came to light.

With a weekend of mourning behind them, and likely a lifetime of mourning ahead, it's probably fair to say Love's family did not expect to be in a situation like this, either -- something not lost on the suspect's mother.

"The pain [Yeardley Love's] mother and her family are suffering is something that no family should ever have to endure," Murphy's statement said. "No parent should have to bury a child and not a moment goes by when they are not in our thoughts and prayers."

While many details on Love's and Huguely's time together are still unknown, Murphy's statement also reveals that the relationship was close enough that she knew Love's mother personally. Murphy also described Love as someone she'd considered to be part of her own family, and "a sweet wonderful young woman with a limitless future."

Murphy's statement came on the same day that UVA's president met with Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell to discuss whether there were warning signs that could have helped prevent the tragedy. An internal investigation is underway to determine if the university could have or should have known about Huguely's criminal history, which includes charges for violent outbursts against law enforcement and his own father, in separate incidents several years ago.

"I would like to know if one of my students is accused of threatening to kill a police officer," Casteen said.

Casteen asked the governor to consider enacting a law to require police departments to inform university administrators when a student is arrested. McDonnell said that may pose some logistical problems, but he said he'll look into the possibility and made a broader promise to improve campus security

"I'm committed to the broader goal of sharing information so that a president can best protect his or her campus," McDonnell said.

While the governor pledged his support for UVA, Marta Murphy pledged her support for her son in the face of the serious charges against him.

"I hope that people can understand that both George's father and I love our son," Murphy's statement said. "We will support George in whatever way we can -- just as any mother or father would do for their child."

Murphy concluded with a request for the public and media to respect her family's need for privacy as they try to cope with the tragedy, and added prayers for the Love family.